[fartcannon]

I often think this has to do with the demographics of the current game buying population. Nintendo appeals to children, parents and people comfortable enough with their inner child to enjoy fun things.

There are a lot of people who are not like that. For example, there are huge popular mods for kerbal space program that add in military weapons and military vehicles. To some people that is cool as hell, to others its an abomination of the game. I think Nintendo's problem is also this same dichotomy and their popularity ebbs and flows with how the current game buying population leans. Population of gamers into safe and fun games like Mario? Nintendo does well and vice versa.